Volunteer Aces of Churchill’s Few

The Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAAF) serves as the primary reinforcement capability for the regular Royal Air Force (RAF). Established in October 1924 as the Auxiliary Air Force (AAF), it consists of paid volunteers who train on evenings and weekends to support the RAF during national emergencies and conflicts. Their pre-war counterparts, alongside pilots of the RAF Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR), played a pivotal role in the Battle of Britain.

Of the sixty-two squadrons involved in the Battle of Britain, fourteen were AAF units. These experienced Auxiliary squadrons claimed 30% of the enemy aircraft destroyed in the summer of 1940. Notably, No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron became the first Spitfire squadron to claim 100 enemy kills. The highest scoring Auxiliary unit was No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron, which achieved fifty-eight kills under Squadron Leader George Denholm's leadership.

Auxiliary Aces of Churchill’s Few highlights the stories of many of these heroic pilots. Squadron Leader Archie McKellar, a plasterer turned fighter pilot with No. 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron, became an "Ace in a Day" by shooting down five Me109s in just 24 hours while flying with No. 605 (County of Warwick) Squadron. Sergeant James 'Ginger' Lacey of No. 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron shot down a bomber attacking Buckingham Palace during his service. Flight Lieutenant Findlay Boyd of No. 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron downed a Junkers Ju 87 Stuka less than a minute after take-off, recording the fastest victory of the battle.

The Auxiliaries' dedication was remarkable, exemplified by their achievements, including the first flight over Mount Everest in 1933. Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park credited their contribution as essential, stating, 'Without the Auxiliaries we would not have defeated the Luftwaffe in 1940'. Auxiliary Aces of Churchill’s Few captures their bravery, skill, and vital role during this critical period.

AUTHOR: Martin Wade is a journalist with over 20 years' experience of writing for newspapers and magazines, often covering historical, particularly military, subjects, especially during his long career at the daily South Wales Argus. He now works in communications for the Welsh Government and also serves in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, working as a Media Operations officer for No. 614 (County of Glamorgan) Squadron in Cardiff. He has been deployed across the UK and the world including to Korea, Ethiopia, Egypt and the USA in support of RAF operations since joining the squadron in 2014 and also serves as the unit's historian. He is the author of the squadron's official history, On Dragons' Wings, published in 2024.

He is married to Su and has one daughter, Carys. Originally from the Isle of Man, Martin moved to Wales to study International Politics at Aberystwyth University in 1988. He enjoys running including marathons and ultramarathons.

32 b/w illustrations